Carton grab assembly for lift vehicles



Dec. 14, 1965 E. K. HANSEN CARTON GRAB ASSEMBLY FOR LIFT VEHICLES FiledSept. 5, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 4 1 mx Wu? H a W A TTOPNEX Dec. 14,1965 E. K. HANSEN CARTON GRAB ASSEMBLY FOR LIFT VEHICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Sept. 5, 1963 IN l/EN 7' 0? E L MEP K HANSEN BY @1 X4 fig 44,477'0PNEK Dec. 14, 1965 E. K. HANSEN CARTON GRAB ASSEMBLY FOR LIFTVEHICLES 5 SheetsSheet 5 Filed Sept. 5, 1963 m VENI'OR ELME/P K, HANSENBY @4 A? W 477'OFNE Y United States l atent 3,223,265 CARTON GRABASSEMBLY FOR LEFT VEHXCLES Elmer K. Hansen, 126 (Jecilia St, Sioux City,iowa Fiietl Sept. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 306,180 9 Claims. (Cl. 214-651))This invention relates to a carton handling attachment for use on a forklift vehicle; more particularly, the invention relates to a carton grabassembly mountable on the carriage of a fork lift vehicle and operableto grip packing cartons having a turned down flange around the topthereof.

It is the object of the invention to provide an improved carton handlingapparatus for a fork lift vehicle which is used in place of the usualfork and is mounted on the carriage portion of a lift vehicle andfunctions to lift, carry, and stack a carton without the use ofauxiliary handling structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carton handlingapparatus which engages and clamps the overhanging fiange formed on theupper portion of a carton and engages the lower portion of the carton toprevent damage to the carton and its contents while it is being handle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carton handlingapparatus which is adjustable to accommodate cartons of various sizes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a compact cartonhandling apparatus so as not to interfere with the maneuverability ofthe lift vehicle.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a relatively lowcost carton grab assembly which is economical and sturdy in constructionand efiicient and versatile in use.

The exact nature of the invention, as well as other objects andadvantages thereof, will be readily apparent from the consideration ofthe following specification relating to the annexed drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fork lift vehicle equipped with thecarton grab assembly of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the units of the cartongrab assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the grab mechanismshown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 1

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view showing therelationship between the shoe and the upright channel member of one ofthe units of the grab assembly;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side view of a fork lift vehicle equipped withthe carton grab assembly, as illustrated in FIG. 1, showing the initialposition of the grab assembly for picking up a carton having a turneddown top flange; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the position of the grabassembly for carrying the carton.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown in FIG. 1, a fork lift vehicle10 in assembled relation with the carton grab assembly 11 of thisinvention. The vehicle 16 has a motor (not shown) which drives a pair offront drive wheels 12. A steering caster wheel 13 is rotatably mountedon the bottom of the rear end of the vehicle.

Extended in an upward direction from the drive wheels 12 is a mast 14comprising a pair of outer channel beams 16 and 17. The lower ends ofthe channel beams 16 and 17 are pivotally mounted on the vehicle frameadjacent the drive wheels 12. Teiescoped within the beams 1d and 17 area pair of inner channel beams 18 and 19 ice which are connected at theirupper ends by a cross member 21. The mast 14 is maintained in an uprightposition and tilted about the axis of the drive wheels 12 by a doubleacting cylinder assembly 22 which is mounted on the vehicle frame. Thecylinder assembly 22 has a piston rod 23 connected to the outer beams 16and 17 by a transverse member 24.

An elevatable carriage 26 extends transversely across the front side ofthe mast 14 and is guided by the inner beams 18 and 19 by rollers (notshown) which are rotatably mounted on the carriage and positioned in thechannels of the inner beams 18 and 19. The carriage 26 has an invertedU-shaped peripheral frame 27 and a pair of parallel vertically spacedplates 28 and 29 which extend between and are secured to the legs of theframe 27.

The carriage 26 is connected to the vehicle frame by a pair of liftchains 31 which are secured at one end to the carriage 26. From thecarriage 26, the lift chains 31 extend in an upward direction oversprockets 32 which are rotatably mounted between the inner beams 13 and19 immediately below the cross member 21 by a transverse shaft 33. Theopposite ends of the lift chains 31 extend in a downward direction andare connected to the vehicles frame.

The inner beams 18 and 19 are moved relative to the outer beams 16 and17 by an upwardly positioned cylinder assembly 34. The lower end of thecylinder assembly 34 is positioned between the drive wheels 12 and ispivotally mounted to the vehicle frame. The upper end of the cylinderassembly 34 includes a piston 36 connected at its upper portion to ashaft 33. When hydraulic fluid under pressure is supplied to the bottomof the cylinder assembly 34, the piston 36 is moved in an upwarddirection carrying the inner beams 18 and 19 and carriage 26 to anelevated position. The carriage 26 will move in a downward directionwhen the hydraulic fluid in the cylinder assembly 34 is permitted toflow back into a reservoir (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 1, the carton grab assembly 11 is mounted on the frontof the carriage 26 and comprises two identical separate units indicatedgenerally as 37 and 38. Each unit is separately mounted on the carriage26 and has a rearwardly extended projection 39 formed with a transversebore 41. A transverse rod 42 mounted on the upper ends of the legs ofthe carriage frame 27, runs through the bores 41 in the projections 39connecting each unit 37 and 38 to the carriage 26. In order toaccommodate cartons of varying widths, the relative spacing between theunits 37 and 38 may be adjusted by slid ing the projections 39 axiallyof the rod 42.

Since the units 37 and 38 are identical in construction, the followingdetailed description is limited to unit 37. Corresponding structure ofunit 38 is indicated with the same reference number having a sufiix a.

As shown in FIG. 2, the unit 37 comprises an upright channel member ashaving the open side thereof facing the carriage 26. The sides of thechannel member 40 engage the bottom carriage plate 29 and the top of thecarriage frame 27. The bottom section of the member 40 terminatesadjacent the plate 29 and the top section thereof projects upwardlyabove the carriage in a direction which is substantially parallel to themast 14. The projection 39 is secured by welds to the legs of thechannel member 40 and coact with the transvere rod 42 to hold thechannel member in an upright position.

Secured to the mid-section of the channel member 40 is a carton-grabmechanism 43 which is operable to grip the top turned down flange of acarton. The grab mechanism 43 comprises a base plate 44 which has a flatsubstantially rectangular shape. As shown in FIG. 4, a pair of tongues45 are secured to and project laterally from the rear surface of theplate 44. The tongues 45 extend in a substantially parallel directionand are transversely spaced from each other. Each tongue 45 has adownwardly and rearwardly directed slot 46. The slots 46 in therespective tongues are in transverse alignment. As shown in FIG. 3, whenthe grab mechanism 43 is assembled on the channel shaped member 46 thetongues 45 are positioned adjacent the opposite sides of the channelmember 40 and a pin 47 projects through the slots 46 and holes 48 in thesides of the channel shaped member. The walls of the tongues 45 definingthe slots 46 function as inclined wedge surfaces which coact with thetransverse pin 47 to positively retain the grab mechanism 43 on theupright channel member 40.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sides of the channel member 40 are provided witha plurality of vertically spaced holes 48 for the purpose of connectingthe grab mechanism 43 to the channel member 40 in a plurality ofvertical positions. These positions may be changed by moving the grabmechanism 43 in an upward direction and removing the transverse pin 47.The grab mechanism 43 may then be moved to the desired position andretained there by inserting the transverse pin 47 through the holes 48.

Forward of the base plate 44 is positioned an outer jaw member 49 whichcomprises a rectangular shaped plate having a size substantially equalto the size of the base plate 44. As shown in FIG. 3, the jaw member 49projects in an upward direction and has a slight bend in the mid-sectionthereof. A hinge connection 51 comprises a U-shaped member 52 which issecured at its free ends to the bottom section of the jaw member 49.Positioned in the channel of the U-shaped member 52 is a rod 53 havingright angle bent ends 54 and 56. The opposite bottom corners of the baseplate 44 have holes 57 and 58. The rod ends 54 and 56 are positioned inthe holes 57 and 58 and secured thereto by Welds.

interposed between the outer jaw member 49 and the base plate 44 is aninner jaw member 59 which is a rectangular shaped plate. The top sectionof the jaw member 59 projects above the top edge of the outer jaw member49 and is turned or bent toward the base plate 44 to provide a convexcurved surface which functions to guide the turned down top flange of acarton into the space between the inner and outer jaw members. Thebottom section 62 of the jaw member 59 projects downwardly and is curvedaway from the base plate 44. The opposite sides of the bottom section 62terminate inwardly from the corresponding sides of the remainder of thejaw member with a result that the width or transverse dimension of thebottom section 62 is less than the width of the top section 61.

The inner jaw member 59 is pivotally mounted on the mid-section of theouter jaw member 49 by a hinge connection 63. The axis of the hingeconnection 63 is substantially parallel to the axis of the hingeconnection 51. The hinge connection 63 comprises a U-shaped member 64which is secured at its free ends to the inside wall of the mid-sectionof the jaw member 49 and a rod 66 having right angle bent ends 67 and68. The inner jaw member 59 is provided with transversely spaced holes69 and 71 which receive the rod ends 67 and 68. The rod ends 67 and 68are secured to the jaw member 59 by welds.

Extended substantially parallel to the hinge connections 51 and 63 is afulcrum rod 72 having right angle turned ends 73 and 74. The rod 72extends in a transverse direction and is positioned between the hingeconnections 51 and 63. The rod ends 73 and 74 are positioned in holes 76and 77 in the opposite sides of the base plate 44 and are securedthereto by welds. As shown in FIG. 3, the bottom section 62 of the jawmember 59 projects through the space between the rod 72 and the basemember 44. The hinge connections 51 and 63 retain the inner jaw member59 in this position. During pivotal movement of the inner jaw member 59,the rod '72 functions as a fulcrum for the outer jaw member 49'.

The jaw members 49 and 59 pivot about separate axes which are defined bythe transverse rods 53 and '72. The relative translatory movementresulting from the pivoting of the jaw members 49 and 59 about spacedparallel axes in a forward direction, which in FIG. 3 iscounter-clockwise, provides the grab mechanism 43 with a biting orclamping action the efiect of which will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 1, a fiat elongated shoe 78 is slidably mounted on thelower section of the channel member 46. The shoe 78 has a limited amountof movement in the vertical direction and is adapted to contact thevehicle support surface when the carriage 26 is in the down position.The shoe 73 functions as a stationary bumper which bears against thebottom edge of a carton.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the shoe 78 has a rearwardly projectedrectangular boss 79 on the mid-section of the upper portion thereof. Theboss 79 passed through a longitudinal slot 81 in the web of the channelmember 40. The slot 81 has a width slightly larger than the width of theboss 79 and has a limited length which determines the amount of verticalmovement of the shoe '78. The back side of the shoe 78 is maintained ina bearing relation with the web of the channel member 40 by a washer 82which is held on the boss 79 by a bolt 83 threaded into the boss 79.

As shown in FIG. 1, the grab assembly 11 is used to pick up andtransport a material packaging carton 84 which has a turned down flange86 along the top periphery of the side walls. The flange 86 ismaintained in a turned down position by a steel band (not shown)circumscribed about the carton. The carton 84 has a reinforced bottomperipheral edge 87.

As shown in FIG. 7, the carriage 26 is tilted in a slightly forwarddirection and the vehicle It) moves forward until the outer jaw member49 engages the side wall of the carton 84 below the turned down flange86. The shoe 78 is in engagement with the carton supporting surface andis spaced from the bottom peripheral edge 87 of the carton.

With the outer jaw member 49 in engagement with the side wall of thecarton 84, the carriage 26 is moved in an upward direction in responseto actuation of the cylinder assembly 34. The moving carriage 26 carriesthe grab mechanisms 43 and 43a in an upward direction until the turneddown top flange 86 is positioned between the outer jaw member 49 and theinner jaw member 59 of each grab mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 8, the carriage 26 is tilted in a rearward directionmoving the shoe 78 into engagement with the bottom peripheral edge 87 ofthe carton. The weight of the carton 84 on the outer jaw member 49subjects the jaw member 49 to an outwardly directed force which tends topivot the jaw member 49 about the hinge connection 51. Movement of theouter jaw member 49 in an outward direction, which is counter-clockwise,as shown in FIG. 8, pivots the inner jaw member 59 about the fulcrum rod72. Since the jaw members 49 and 59 pivot about separate and spacedparallel axes the complementary ends of each jaw member have relativetranslatory movement. In other words, the upper end section of the innerjaw member 59 moves toward the upper end section of the outer jaw member49 and thereby clamps the turned down peripheral flange between the jawmembers 49 and 59. The jaw members 49 and 59 coact to bite the turneddown peripheral flange 86 preventing relative movement of the cartonwith respect to the grab mechanisms 43 and 43a.

After the carton 84 has been transported to its new location, the grabmechanisms 43 and 43a of the grab assembly 11 are released from clampingengagement with the turned down peripheral top flange by lowering thecarriage 26 to position the crate on the supporting surface. Continuedlowering of the carriage 26 moves the outer jaw member 49 from under theturned down flange 86. The shoes 78 and 780, being in engagement withthe supporting surface, does not inhibit the downward movement of thechannel members as the elongated slots 81 and 81a permit the channelmembers to move downward relative to the shoes 78 and 78a. The vehicleis then backed away from the carton 84 and the carriage 26 raised untilthe shoes 78 and 78:: are above supporting surface. The vehicle 10 isnow ready to retrieve a second carton.

In summary, the carton grab assembly 11 includes a pair of identicalgrab mechanisms 43 and 43a. Each grab mechanism has an outer jaw member49 and an inner jaw member 59 which are pivoted on separatesubstantially parallel axes. In use these jaw members are positionedabout the top turned down flange of a material packaging carton. Pivotalmovement of the respective jaw members about their separate pivotal axesresults in a relative translatory movement of the upper ends of therespective jaw members so as to bite or clamp the peripheral flange 86of the carton.

This invention has been described with respect to its preferredembodiment. It is to be understood that it is not to be so limited sincechanges can be made therein which are within the full intended scope ofthis invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A carton grab assembly for a lift vehicle having an elevatablecarriage usable to handle cartons having a down turned flange around thetop thereof, comprising:

(a) upright means having a bottom section mounted on said carriage,

(b) grab means positioned adjacent said upright means,

(c) means for connecting the grab means to the upright means above saidbottom section,

((1) said grab means including a base plate having a bottom section, afirst jaw member having a top section, a bottom section and amid-section, first hinge means pivotally connecting the bottom sectionof the first jaw member to the bottom section of the base plate, asecond jaw member having a top section and a bottom section, said secondjaw member interposed between said first jaw member and said base plate,second hinge means pivotally connecting the midsection of the first jawmember and the section of the second jaw member adjacent the bottomsection thereof, fulcrum means secured to the base plate and extendedabout the bottom section of the second jaw member whereby upon upwardmovement of the carriage the first jaw member pivots away from said baseplate moving the top section of said second jaw member toward the topsection of the first jaw member clamping a portion of the down turnedflange therebetween.

2. The carton grab assembly defined in claim 1, includ- (a) shoe meansslidably mounted for upright movement on the bottom section of saidupright means.

3. In combination with a lift vehicle having a mast and a carriagemounted for vertical movement on said mast,

(a) means mounted on said carriage for engaging and lifting an articlehaving a downturned top flange upon upward movement of said carriage,said means comprising,

I (b) upright means, and

(c) grab means mounted on said upright means, said grab means includinga base plate, a first jaw means pivotally connected to said base plate,a second jaw means interposed between said first jaw means and the baseplate, fulcrum means secured to said base late, said second jaw meanspivotally connected to said first jaw means and movable about saidfulcrum means to clamp a portion of the down-turned top flange betweensaid jaw means.

4-. The invention defined in claim 3, including: (a) shoe meanspositioned below said grab means and slidably mounted on said uprightmeans for engaging a portion of said article adjacent a bottomperipheral 5 edge.

5. A grab mechanism for a lift vehicle having an elevatable carriagecomprising:

(a) a base plate mounted on said carriage having a bottom section,

(b) a first jaw member having a top section, a bottom section, and amid-section,

(c) first hinge means pivotally connecting the bottom section of thefirst jaw member to the bottom section of the base plate,

(d) a second jaw member having an upper end section and a lower endsection, said second jaw member interposed between said first jaw memberand said plate,

(e) second hinge means pivotally connecting the midsection of the firstjaw member and the section of the second jaw member adjacent the lowerend section thereof,

(f) fulcrum means secured to the base plate and extended about the lowerend section of the second jaw member whereby upon pivotal movement ofthe first jaw member away from said base plate the upper end section ofsaid second jaw member moves toward the top section of the first jawmember.

6. A grab mechanism usable with a lift vehicle having 30 an elevatablecarriage to handle a carton having a turn down to flange comprising:

(a) base means mounted on said carriage having a bottom section,

(b) first jaw means having a top section, mid-section,

and bottom section,

(c) first pivot means connecting the bottom section of the base meanswith the bottom section of the first jaw means whereby the first jawmeans pivots about a first axis,

(d) second jaw means having a top section and a bottom section, saidsecond jaw means positioned between said base means and first jaw meanswith the top portion thereof projected above the top section of saidfirst jaw means,

(e) second pivot means connecting the mid-section of the first jaw meansand the section of the second jaw means immediately above the bottomsection thereof for pivotal movement about a second axis extendedsubstantially parallel to said first axis, and

(f) fulcrum means secured to the base means and extended about thebottom section of the second jaw means along a third axis positionedbetween the first and second axis and projected substantially parallelthereto whereby upon pivotal movement of the first jaw means away fromthe said base means the top section of said second jaw means movestoward the top section of the first jaw means to clamp a portion of thedownturned flange therebetween.

7. A grab mechanism for a lift vehicle having an elevatable carriageusable with a carton having a turndown top flange comprising:

(a) base means mounted on said carriage having a bottom section,

(b) first means having a top section, mid-section, and

bottom section,

(c) first pivot means connecting the bottom section of the base meanswith the bottom section of the first means whereby the first meanspivots about a first axis,

(d) second means having a top section and a bottom section, said secondmeans positioned between said base means and first means,

(e) second pivot means connecting the mid-section of the first means anda section of the second means above the bottom section thereof forpivotal move- 7 ment about a second axis extended substantially parallelto said first axis, and

(f) fulcrum means secured to the base means and extended about thebottom section of the second means along a third axis positioned betweenthe first and second axis and projected substantially parallel theretowhereby upon pivotal movement of the first means away from the said basemeans the top section of said second means moves toward the top sectionof the first means to clamp a portion of the downturned flangetherebetween.

8. A grab assembly for use with an elevatable structure comprising:

(a) a base plate mounted on said elevatable structure having fulcrummeans secured to one side and adjacent a lower section thereof,

(b) laterally extended tongue means secured to the other side of saidbase plate,

() first jaw means having a mid-section and a bottom section, saidbottom section pivotally connected to said base plate,

((1) second jaw means having a bottom portion and a top portion, saidbottom portion pivotally movable relative to said fulcrum means, and

(e) said second jaw means pivotally connected to said first jaw meanswhereby pivotal movement of said first jaw means away from the baseplate moves the top portion of said second jaw means toward said firstjaw means in a clamping action.

9. A grab mechanism for a lift vehicle having an elevatable carriagecomprising:

(a) a base plate mounted on said elevatable carriage having a bottomsection and a laterally extended retaining means,

(b) first jaw means having a mid-portion and a bottom portion,

(0) first means pivotally connecting the bottom section of said baseplate to the bottom portion of Said first jaw means,

(d) second jaw means having a lower section,

(e) second means pivotally connecting the section above the lowersection of said second jaw means to the mid-portion of said first jawmeans, and

(f) said lower section of the second jaw means surrounded by saidretaining means whereby pivotal movement of said first jaw means awayfrom the base plate rotates the second jaw means about the retainingmeans to move the jaw means together.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 252,025 1/ 1882Fellows 29428 1,862,680 6/1932 Hutchison 294-28 2,123,695 7/1938 Elmer.2,226,570 12/ 1940 McCaw 211177 2,784,024 3/1951 Edgerton 294104 XR2,670,095 2/ 1954 Blatz 214653 2,676,722 4/1954 Ulinski 214-6512,693,289 11/1954 Ulinski 214653 2,698,107 12/1954 Erricson 2146532,726,781 12/1955 Stanley 214653 2,744,645 5/ 1956 Cirillo 214-6512,893,582 7/1959 Parcell 214651 2,987,204 6/1961 Wallace 214-6533,023,919 3/1962 Hobson 214-620 3,100,574 8/1963 Buechler 211177 FOREIGNPATENTS 126,099 12/ 1931 Austria. 914,374 1/1963 Great Britain.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

MORRIS TEMIN, Examiner.

8. A GRAB ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH AN ELEVATABLE STRUCTURE COMPRISING: (A)A BASE PLATE MOUNTED ON SAID ELEVATABLE STUCTURE HAVING FULCRUM MEANSSECURED TO ONE SIDE AND ADJACENT A LOWER SECTION THEREOF, (B) LATERALLYEXTENDED TONGUE MEANS SECURED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID BASE PLATE, (C)FIRST JAW MEANS HAVING A MID-SECTION AND A BOTTOM SECTION, SAID BOTTOMSECTION PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID BASE PLATE, (D) SECOND JAW MEANSHAVING A BOTTOM PORTION AND A TOP PORTION, SAID BOTTOM PORTION PIVOTALLYMOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID FULCRUM MEANS, AND (E) SAID SECOND JAW MEANSPIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST JAW MEANS WHEREBY PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OFSAID FIRST JAW MEANS AWAY FROM THE BASE PLATE MOVES THE TOP PORTION OFSAID SECOND JAW MEANS TOWARD SAID FIRST JAW MEANS IN A CLAMPING ACTION.